going to church or not

Kaci - posted on 03/04/2010
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I have two little boys and me and my husband don't go to church. some people tell us that to be good christians we have to go to church every sunday. we bopth are very strong in our faith. but we don't think that we have to go to church to be "better" christians and to be closer to God. We teach our boys about everything at home and we do go to church occasionally. what do you think about this. i just feel like you don't have to go to church every sunday to be closer to God. We pray together and on our own time also.

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Darcel - posted on 03/07/2010

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Think about it this way:

AA/NA/FA is for recovering addicts. You don't have to go to AA to stop drinking, but the support of others really helps keep addicts sober. It is a proven fact that people lose more weight when they attend weight watchers/weight loss support meetings than if they do it alone.

Church is the exact same thing. God never included clinical studies in the bible but others have quoted the scriptures needed to prove that God wants belivers to meet. We get strength and support in church, as well as learn more about the holy word through ministry. AA tells its "members" to go to meetings even when you don't fee like it and attend a meeting anytime you need one. It provides support and strength during hard times and keeps the goog times good. Church is exactly the same way for a spiritual walk.

I think that going to church is what helps you to be a stronger christian. It is a special time each week that you go to learn and fellowship with other christians. Also how do you celebrate the sacraments if you are not attending church.

Jesus didn't destroy the temple because people were worshiping in it, He destroyed the tables of the money changers, that is those people that were using a house of prayer and worship as a market place.

Matthew 21:12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves.13 "It is written," he said to them, "‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers’."

I would recommend googling churches in your area. That's how I found our church. Finding a church can be hard, but you can tell a lot about a church from their website! You can get a feel for what they are about, what they wear, what they study, all kinds of things.

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Wanda - posted on 04/09/2011

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It's very important to go to church because you and your family's faith is able to become that much more stronger and also just being able to fellowship with others and praising God along with others is just a great sense of family and also gives a great feeling. Also attending church every Sunday helps ward off Satan from your lives and lift your spirits especially when you've had a pretty rough week. So please, give going to church on Sundays a chance... you just might find that you and your family will like it.

God sees what is in your heart. Whether you choose to go to church or not does not get you into heaven. Your home could be a place of worship. If going to church is important to you and your act of faith then please attend but you should not attend out of obligation. That is not the purpose of going. If you believe that Jesus is the son of God and is your Lord and Savior then going to church is just another act of faith.

I totally agree with Sarah Hoftland. I think you will find being a part of a church family rewarding too- spiritually, emotionally, etc. My husband and I have not attended church of a little over a year now, and I see how much we need that connection. We have a 8 1/2 month old baby girl, so the past year has been hectic, but I want going to church to be a regular thing our family does. It was important in my family growing up, and I want it to be for my children. I really think it shows your kids what's important to you, what you value.

I agree with many of the others who have posted answers to your question. Going to chuch isn't required but the support and encouragement you get there can be invaluable as you grow in Christ. Children need structure and a routine and when it's not there they become confused and sometimes harder to deal with. You are doing the right thing by teaching them at home about these things but they also need to see others doing the same things on a regular basis.........there are some things you can only get in a group.

There is nothing wrong with what you are doing. In Matthew 18:20, the Bible states that where two or more come together, I am there with them. You can be an excellent Christian at home or in a church building. Church is wherever you make it. Fellowshipping in a church is good also, but God knows your heart.

SO many wonderful answers. I don't think I could add anything any better than what has already been said. I guess I'll just respond to one comment I saw that said something about doing what you feel led to do. I think that is only applicable if you have a very close relationship with Christ and you are praying about the issue. What we think we are "led" to do is often not what Christ wants. Maybe it is something or someone else trying to "lead" us astray. Satan hates for us to go to church and I don't think it's a coincidence that for so many families Sunday morning can be so hectic, arguments get started, someone doesn't feel well... Satan is hard at work and we must fight back with the armor of God.

I agree with all of these posts that encourage you to find a church body and attend as often as you can. It really helps in your daily walk to be able to be with other believers, and your presence and experiences that you share are helpful to them. But, having said that, churches aren't all the same. It's important that they teach the truth, have a loving attitude toward others, and you feel the presence of God there. Good luck, and remember that the most important thing you will ever do is lead those 2 precious sons to faith in Jesus. God bless you and your family.

i don't think going to church will make or not a better Christian,, but i believe that God wants to us fellowship with other believers and worship Him corporately. The bible says don't forsake the assembly of the brethren. I guess that verse is in the bible for a purpose. God love fellowship. I personally love going to fellowship with other brethren and anytime i am down, by the time i get back home from church, i feel much more better, lifted. Moreover, there is no better place to take your children but church. It works in a way we can't understand. My little boys, age 3 and 2, loves going to church. Things are happening around the world, but the foundation we lay for our children will see them through in life, even after we are gone. The bible says if the foundation be destroy, what shall the righteous do? Just mediate on these.

I serve as the Preschool ministries director and I do feel you need to go to church, maybe not every Sunday if that is to much for you and your family and you are teaching them the Bible at home. The reason I feel this way is that when we surround ourselves with like minded people, in this case your Christian family, you are helping to build a stronger bond. I feel that the world is hard enough on Christians and to get a chance to be surrounded by others is a positive thing. I think when we worship together as a church body when gain things from others and I know that I love having my daughter surrounded by all the Christian love that all her "church grandparents and aunts, uncles and cousins." I know that she is protected completely...mind, body, soul and spirit!! Of course this is just my opinion....you as a parent have to decide what is best for your family. God bless you all!!

The Bible says to not forsake meeting with other Christians. We not only go to church to get something out of it, we go there to worship the Lord together with other Christians. Going to church can make you a better Christian in the sense of it can help you grow deeper into your relationship with Christ. Being a Christian is NOT following a set amount of rules. Like, you have to go to be a "good" Christian, rather, it is a relationship with Christ and if you love Him and want to obey Him, you will go to church out of love and obedience to Christ. If the Bible says to not stop meeting with other Christians, then there is good reason for it. :)

i agree to almost everybody here who posted that going to church is God's way of bringing us closer to His Church, His body...if we are true, strong Christians, we would want to go to church because it is where we can learn more about Him, fellowship with other believers, edify each other...grow in our faith! all the more...we should teach our kids to go to church while they are still young, even if there will come a stage where they wouldn't want to come along...the Church and going to church can help us as parents to reinforce Christianity that we are supposed to be teaching them at home.

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel ..." (Col 1:23). This says to us that a Christian must remain true and steadfast, firm and immovable in the faith. by doing this we must be around other christians. staying strong by help of others is one way to grow as christians. teaching our chrildren to grow up as strong ones as well. our pastors, teachers and other stronger christians I believe could be great role models. as well as pray with us when we are weak.. I pray this helped. God bless you. being around other believes also makes you feel good inside to.

I have been married almost 26 years and have 3 children. (23,21,15) I grew up going to church and so did my husband. We learned about Jesus and His love as children and lived in homes where the love of Christ was demonstrated. We are not perfect people, but we have a perfect God. The church has played a vital part in our lives. There is nothing like having a church family that loves you with the unconditional love that is only available through knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Our oldest child was born with spina bifida. She is now 23 and has had at least 23 surgeries. We could not have made it without our Lord and our church family. I would encourage you to take your family to a church where Jesus is taught as the only Way to salvation. It's not so much about the education you receive but more about the relationships you make. First with Christ, then with others who believe the way you do. May God bless you as you take steps to find the place He has for you and your family.

You must remember that, if you want god to make time for you, you MUST make time for him!! I have just recently started going back to church with my 6yr. old daughter. We found a wonderful place to worship and she absolutely loves the Sunday school service. That was very important to me, because she needs that spiritual feeding as well as I do. I can't tell that in just the little time that she has gone, her attitude towards doing her chores and school have changed for the better!! I let her know that god holds her accountable for the things she does in her life and she understands that. She will ask me on a regular, "do you think god will be mad at me if misbehave in school?" I tell her that she will disappoint him, because all of his children should be good all the time! She gets it!! I do believe that to be a good christian you do need to go every Sunday. I know that it may not be possible all the time, but as long as god knows that you are trying to be the best christian you can, he will be proud of you! Besides, who wouldn't want him in their corner??!!

It is not my intention to preach here, but Hebrews 10:25 comes to mind as I read your post. If you intend to be a Christian who follows the word of God, then it is important to attend church faithfully. This verse instructs us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Not only should church attendance be important in your life, but getting involved in that church and being an active part of that church body should be important as well. In the book of James we are instructed to be doers of the word and not hearers only.

I find that my children thrive due largely to church attendance. They are part of something bigger than themselves and are loved and cherished by our church family. In my personal life I have found that prayer and praise on your own is good. I believe it is a needful thing. But, there is something different when you gather together with the saints and pray and offer praise to the Lord! Nothing like it! Isn't He worthy??

It is my opinion that it is dreadfully important for our children to recieve a strong foundation rooted in truth while they are young. I am not saying that what your family does is not a good foundation, but it can only be made stronger by being active in church and staying submissive and obedient to God's word. Our children will face things as teenagers, and even before then, that we never faced. They will need the personal relationship with Jesus that you are trying to teach them, and it can only be reinforced by being active in church.

Hi Kaci,Sometimes people get caught up on what we think we need to do as Chrisitans, but the truth is that the Lord has given us, through His Word, exactly what we need, to be "good Christians". First we need to seek Him daily, both in prayer and through His Word. If the Lord Himself, sought His Father in time alone with Him, how much more us who are so finite? Next, it's not mandatory, nothing the Lord asks of us is ever forced on us, but it is important to be in a solid, bible teaching church. Not because someone tells us to but because there are a lot of benefits - first you are learning from someone the Lord has chosen to lead His people in His name, and second because the fellowship is good for us - we need to be around like minded people for support, fellowship and even for accountability. We see in the early church that they met daily for study, fellowship - they even ate together. I hope this helps a little. My son is now 22 years old and I have to say that I have been eternally blessed to be in a great church, where I want to be there every Sunday. No one is making me feel any pressure to be there - I am just blessed to worship Him, hear His Word through an amazing annointed man and fellowship with what has become my family. God bless you and your family! Jeannette

hi, Going to church is more than just feeling closer to God. If you and your husband have the faith...it is because your parents implanted them in you...I am sure they took you to church. I know you are teaching your sons about God but there is more to knowing God at their ages than just praying....their is the singing of action songs, memorizing of verses, there is the listening to Bible Stories there is the fellowship they enjoy with fellow believers. Please let your Sons grow in Church and make the decision of fellowship at home when they are old enough to make the choice

It's interesting to see the terms "good", "better" or "bad" Christian. I believe that if you are a Christian you are a Christian. As a Christian you are a part of the body of Christ and He uses each part. As quoted earlier Hebrews 10:25 refers to not forsaking the assembling of believers. I read that to mean that He calls us to gather together, otherwise put attending church. My personal feeling is that if you get into questioning if you have to attend church every Sunday you might be getting into a spirit of religiosity. Christianity is about having a relationship with the Lord and being obedient to His word. We all have to decide for ourselves what that means and seek godly counsel in how we respond to it.

Church isn't a building, it's the people. Where 2 or more are gathered in His name to worship Him.... THAT'S church and it is VERY important to your Christian walk. :) You don't have to go to a church 'building' to be a good Christian though and not going to a church 'building' won't make you a bad Christian.

That being said... I love my church family and go every single week except for illness (which we've been having way too much of lately). I hate missing and when I have to miss I feel like a critical part of my week is gone.

were You refering to when Jesus died the Temple was split? that was to brake the barrier between God and His ppl becouse befor Jesus died the Hebews had to go threw priests to get to God. with out them they were not heard. and now that Jesus has died and shown His triumph over sin and death all we have to do is trust and follow God's will(and word). (prayer isnt the same thing but helps us find strangth and comfert from God.) .. hope i didnt mis understand You.

Church can be a gret tule (sadly said) for Your family. its also good to keep etch other accountable (as very much of the NT is letters writen to churchs who needed accountability as we all do) Tho if there is no "good" church in the area it is better not to be amugst sinfull pridful and ppl unwilling to listen to God's word and live it it. tho i think it would be better for the spiritual health of a family to look for a church in the area or out side where they live(maybe move) keep in mind every memeber of God's body is sinful. tho God wants us to renew our selfs every day in Him.

If every good Christian went to church, there would be no room for them all! We are all not called to go to church at the same time. Your calling will come, just not today. I didnt start to go until my children were in there late teens. I do believe it is good for your childredn to be introduced to church, Sunday School. Its a foundation for them to choose from.

Kasi, Church going to church may not necessarily make you a better christian BUT..when in the process we are teaching our children that it isn;t important..and in the long run the children gets the idea that church is for a wedding or a funeral alone that's not what God intends when we meet people of the same faith worshipping together our lives are strengethened and we might become a blessing to some one..So taking your children to church is providing them with the wholesome diet...and theres plenty to be learnt...it's just like the fun we have when we share..And being around other christians help you build a better relationships with them

I still stand firm in my belief that you don not have to attend church every sunday or saturday depending on what denomination you are. As a christian family, we hold family bible studies and is very fulfilling, not just for me but for my children also. They are more comfortable at our home vs church, they feel like they can ask more questions and feel comfortable doing so.So Kaci, i say don't feel convicted over what people are saying. If God moves you to go to church, then go, if not then you and your family hold studies at home. I do have a church home, but sometimes I don't go. I do not feel bad about it, and my spiritual walk does not weaken from it. I agree some people need church depending on how far they are in their walk with Christ.But like i said before my best time with Him is alone in a quiet place where i can pray in secret and worship Him!

I don't think going to church makes you a better christian, their are some who go every Sunday and still haven't accepted Jesus as their Savior. Hebrews 10:25 says we should not forsake the assembly of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much more as ye see the day approaching.I think that as we get connected to a church body, we not only can help you but I am sure you have many gifts and talents the the body of Christ is missing out on because you and your family are not there. We need one another in the body of Christ, I don't know what I would do without my church family. I hope this help, be blessed!

I believe it is important to go to church to have fellowship with other believers, to have support for when you or someone in your family is need ,emotionally,physically etc. i think it is also important to have others in your circle to bounce ideas off. I also think by saying you don't need to go to church is like saying you know everything already. i believe even though you say you are strong christians who couldn't use some reminders or encouragement from other believers.

I also wonder, Jana, if those who are encouraging Kaci from regular attendance are really just trying to reaffirm to themselves that it's okay that THEY don't attend regularly.

I will again quote Hebrew 10: 25 "do not forsake our own assembling together." I don't really care if it's a building, store front, community center, home, school, wherever- the point is church is the meeting of a body of believers! You cannot fulfill that with just your husband and two little boys.

I have a feeling that the reason that some of you are discouraging Kaci from finding a Church home is because at some point you have had a bad experience. That is understandable. And I do agree that Church is not a building, it IS the Body of Believers. I do, however, believe that you will be strengthened, encouraged, held accountable and matured in your faith when you consistently meet with the Body of Believers, whether it's in Church, a Bible Study, or some other form of fellowship. Pray earnestly and seek God's wisdom in this, not mans.

I agree with you Kaci. Me and my husband are stong christians. If I dont feel like going to church I don't. My husband is currently overseas serving in the military. But when he was home we did not go to church every sunday. I don't think it makes you a stronger christian. I sometimes feel a closer more intimate relationship with God when I am not in church. So don't worry about what people say. We are not here to please man, only God. Just remember too that church is not a building, but a body of believers in Christ!May God bless you and your family!

Going to church won't automatically make someone a better christian. But a serious christian should want to fellowship with other christians - and the bible calls us to.

I mean, I honestly believe if you only go to a church out of duty or don't want to be there, there is no point in going. We should only go because we want to be there, but as christians we should want that fellowship.

Even if it's not sunday church, there are bible study groups, mid week church services, and plenty more ways to join regularly with other believers for fellowships.

Even if not for yourself, I think it's extremely important for your boys. As children in an ever increasinly secular world, it is so important for them to build strong friendships with boys and girls their age who can strengthen their faith.

It is so important for children to have friends who share their faith. And what better place to meet other christian children than church?

For me I find I need to go to church to get the word as well as building and maintaining relationships with other christians. I was save almost 2 years ago and go faithfully. My husband was only saved a couple of months ago. As "new" christians we find strength in our church family. They offer so much support and we have needed a lot! It is also a myth just because you go every Sunday you will automatically go to heaven but that is not true! It's about your conviction and walking in Christs' path. Like the sticker says "What would Jesus do?"

Oh Kaci, I will be praying that you and your family find a good bible believing, truth searching, spirit filled church! I don't believe that whether you go to church or not makes you a "good" or a "bad" Christian. I do believe, however, that your relationship with the Lord is made deeper and more intimate when you go to a place of worship with other believers. So many members here have posted wonderful things, along with scripture, to support this. And the benefits and blessings of belonging to a Church is endless!!!! I live in a small town, and have been going to the same Church since I was a young adult, but I can empathize with the difficulty of finding a church where you "fit". The most important thing is, make sure that whatever they are preaching/teaching is biblical. I agree with one of the members that we are living in the End Times, and deception is occurring more and more, making it difficult to be able to discern what is truth and what is not. Pray about it. As your boys grow, you will find that the support, encouragement and godly counseling of your Pastor and Church Family is invaluable. I don't know what I would do without the members of my Church coming alongside me as my husband and I raise our two children, and the Youth Group that our 12-year-old daughter is involved in is such a huge part of her life. The bottom line is that we need eachother as a body of Believers! I also commend you on what you are doing at home! Keep up with that, because it is also so important that you teach your sons about Jesus in your home as well as worship Him there. We serve and awesome God, and because of Jesus, we can Worship Him anywhere at anytime!! God bless you as you search for a Church for you and your family.

While the church is not the place where to find God, the bible teaches that we are to come together in fellowship. This is how we learn to proaise and worship Him for all he is. Ultimately jesus is the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the father except by him. Pray to him, he will lead you to where he wants you to go, what to do, and when. God Bless

Hey Kaci, I'm Danielle. No, you don't have to go to church every Sunday to be "closer to God" or to be "better christians". Remember that you are the church. I personally think that it does not matter to God where you go to church as long as you beleive. You and your husband are on the right track as long as you are comfortable with it. You are bringing your boys up the way that the Lord is telling you to. There is no " right or wrong" way to be a christian, as long as you trust and beleive.

At church is where you get the surport. If you happen to go like we have a lat off and no other income the church family is there to help out with food or maybe babsitting while looking for a job or just to have the whole church to stand behind you praying for you. I know when i had surgery the ladies brought supper for us and that was a blessing. God wants you to gather together and worship in his house with others to keep your faith up and to be there for others.

You should be able to worship your Lord wherever you go. It doesnt say in the bible that to be a good christan you need to worship the Lord in a church...if im correct, because ppl where worsihping in a chruch Jesus destroyed it. you should be able to worship your Lord no matter where you go, or where it is at. Dont allow others to say your a bad christan for doing any different. its what is in your heart. not from what others tell you that matters. Jesus isnt going to stirke you down for not going to chruch. he loves you no matter what.

You are really selling yourself and God short by not going to church. I used to believe the same thing. It is wonderful that your faith is strong, but another component of being a Christian is fellowship with other Christians. As a Christian I want to go to church, to praise God and glorify Him. I soo look forward to Sundays now. Maybe try every other weekend to start.

I appreciate all these posts. I have had some people say to me particularly why do I go to church if I praise God at home. I have told them about fellowshipping with other christian minded believers and strengthening my faith in God and getting the teachings of God because I don't know everything. But these posts gave me a deeper understanding of why I go to church and some more things to think about. Thank you all.

I totally understand- we have moved several times in our marriage and we are currently in a very rural area. Our pastor (who is also new to the area) has called it a spiritual dessert!! It took over a year to find the church we're at now. But every Sunday we went SOMEwhere.

I always recommend giving a new church four Sundays in a row and try to attend a social/ fellowship during that time too. This gives people a chance to approach you and make conversation. If you only go once- it might be a crazy week for someone (like me) and they might not have a chance to break free and chat with you.

Also, have you thought about what you believe doctrinally? Do you believe in 100% election, being chosen? Do you believe in once saved, always saved, or do you believe you can lose your salvation if you deny later? Do you believe in speaking in tongues and prophesy? Do you believe women can be pastors? These are a few questions maybe you and your husband should search the Bible over together and it will help direct you to atleast a denomination that agrees with your beliefs- important as your children get older.

In our rural area, we had to look beyond dress, music and youth programs available. When it came down to it there were really only 2 or 3 churches in the area that belived as we did. It made the searching a little easier but still... We spent almost a year at one church and took memebership classes and still found a deal breaker (as a local church, they don't agree with women pastors but as a national denomination, they do- so part of our tithe that goes to the national org was going to support women pastors.) We still keep in touch with many of the families but we felt unable to continue to attend and give to that church- and the pastor was very understanding. He hadn't even been aware of it!!

I would recommend googling churches in your area. That's how I found our church. Finding a church can be hard, but you can tell a lot about a church from their website! You can get a feel for what they are about, what they wear, what they study, all kinds of things.

Wow, every post is so good! I agree with every body.... No it doesn't make you a "better" Christian, but it does make you a stronger one. Down to quoting the scripture to uphold the fact that we should attend church EVERY chance we get, every single point I could think of was covered. It's great to see so many people who believe in the assembly of worship and fellowship!

Scripture tells us "Do not forsake the fellowship of the believer" and also "Do not let your foot break the sabbath" God put the practice of joining together for times of worshiping Him and receiving teaching from Him, through His teachers and ministers for a reason. I don't think it makes us better Christians, but I do believe it makes us stronger, and I think if we have a true desire for God, His word and maturing in our relationship with Him, then we will have a desire to go to church, not just on certain occasions or when we're feeling down, or need prayer, but as often as possible.

People who have a favorite tv show, will try and see every episode, people who have a favorite sports team will try and see every game or race or match. Well my favorite is God, so I will attend every service, spend time reading Gods word everyday, spend time in prayer and conversation with God every day.

I agree with Sarah, I think you would want to go to church...that being said going to church doesn't make you a 'better' Christian but I think that it is nice to learn more each week. Also, it seems like a great idea to get your boys in a Sunday School with other children not only will they learn from other people but they will also make Christian friends for life, I know I did!!!

we would really like to go to church every sunday and we use to but now since we've moved we are having a hard time finding a church that we are comfortable in. we want to find a church where you don't feel like you have to dress up and also we want the church to have a good childrens program. the church we use to go to before we moved was the best. it had a class for every child of all ages and junior high class. it had a diverse group which is really important to us. plus i guess since me and my husband sometimes even work monday thru saturday that we just want one day to rest all day

I believe that you need a healthy balance. You need to do the things that you are doing at home, but I also believe that you need to attend a church. There are people on both ends of this, people who think that just sitting in church makes them a Christian, and people who don't believe it is important. But I believe it is a balance. My reasoning is that Jesus went to church. He would still have been the Son of God without going, but He did. We are encouraged in the Bible to not give up meeting together in Hebrews as Cheryl mentioned. And in Bible times there was no such thing as a follower of Christ who did not attend church. We need the support of other believers. We are all family in Christ, and all part of one body, and we cannot say that we do not need each other. I recommend reading 1 Corinthians 12.

Don't stop what you are doing though. What you are doing is oh so important! I just think we need both.

the church is not just the building it is the body of christ also....i myself and my husband don't go as often as we would like but i am changing my schedule to try and make there more often because i just feel better worshiping with other christians, and listening to the word and having it broken down to me, when i have questions or don't understand i go to the bible and then to my father(a associate pastor and the leader of christian education) it doesn't make you a better christian but it offers worship with the body of christ.

Have you read Hebrews lately? The writer of Hebrews (most say Paul but it's not clear) talks about how Jesus has fullfilled all the previous laws and regulations that enslaved the Jews- like manditory attendance. He talks about how Jesus has ushered in a new and living way that we can come before God through Jesus, not a certain prayer or something. Then in Heb 10:23-25, he says "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering... let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds...not forsaking our own assembling together... but to encourage one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." I left some out- you can read it all for yourself. But to you see the point- church is not just for your benefit, but what you can do for others. Church is not a building or nonprofit entity- it is a group of people joining together to edify (Prov 17:17), encourage, pray, fellowship, discipleship, evangelize and grow in their understanding of the word of God. It doesn't make you a "better" Christian but it should lead you closer to God and strengthen your faith all the more.

"All the more as you see the day drawing near." And let's face it, I believe we're coming into end times (no, not 2012 like the movie says ;-) but probably if not my lifetime, definately my children's. We need to be grounded in the Word of God to be able to decern truth from lies. The Bible says in these days, men will want their ears tickled... I'd almost concider a good church to be one that people might be leaving becuase they don't like what the Pastor is trying to teach them!!

And there is so much more benefit to your children to be invested in by other Christians other than mom and dad. I know many families when the tough teen years hit- it was another person in the church the teen turned to for advice becuase mom and dad just didn't understand. You want those kind of good people in your children's lives. I concider it a blessing that my kids have tons of "grandmas and grandpas types" praying and looking out for them!!